A method for facilitating space experiences for at least a first space user and for at least first and second different spaces, the method comprising the steps of storing first and second space experience specifications for the first and second different spaces, respectively, wherein the first and second space experience specifications indicate space affordance settings for the first and second spaces, respectively, sensing a trigger event associated with at least one of the first and second different spaces, where the sensed trigger event is associated with the first space, using the first space experience specification to control the first space affordances and where the sensed trigger event is associated with the second space, using the second space experience specification to control the second space affordances.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for facilitating at least first and second different activities within a first space that includes a first set of environmental control affordances including at least a first subset of lighting devices, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring for triggers associated with a sensor in a personal portable device within the first space; when a trigger occurs: (i) determining an experience specification corresponding to the trigger; (ii) adjusting an environmental control affordance corresponding to the trigger.
A method for adapting a room's environment (lighting, etc.) based on a person's activity, using sensors in their phone or device. The method monitors for triggers from a sensor in the device while inside the room. When a trigger occurs, the system determines what activity is associated with that trigger and then adjusts the room's environmental controls (like lights) to match.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of changing a sequence of the series of environments as consecutive triggers occur.
The method described above also changes the environment dynamically as a series of triggers occur. The system adapts the room in response to a sequence of triggers from the portable device, creating a series of environments suitable for the activities occurring.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or an elevation detector, and the trigger comprises a signal that an elevation of the personal device has changed.
In the method described in the first claim, the sensor in the personal device is an accelerometer, gyroscope, or elevation detector. The trigger happens when the device's elevation changes, indicating a change in activity or location within the space, which initiates an environmental adjustment.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises a lighting condition.
In the method where elevation change triggers adjustments, the environmental control being adjusted is the lighting condition in the space. This includes brightness or color.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personal portable device is operable to present a space experience effect, and further comprising the step of presenting the space experience effect on the personal portable device.
The method above uses a phone or device that can present a "space experience effect". So, in addition to adjusting the room's environment, the method also plays a sound or presents a visual effect on the user's phone related to what's happening in the room.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of presenting the space experience comprises presenting a sound track to the user.
In the method of presenting a space experience effect on the user's device, the presented effect is a soundtrack. This could be music or ambient sounds that match the room's environmental setting.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of associating the personal device with the first space.
The method described in the previous claim, which plays a soundtrack on the user's device, first associates the device with the room. This ensures that only users within the designated area receive the environmental controls and soundtrack.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting a beam from the portable personal device and that is useable with the access points to triangulate the location of the user device.
In the environmental adaptation method, the device transmits a signal (like a beam) that room access points use to pinpoint the device's location through triangulation. This allows the system to refine environmental adjustments based on the user's specific location within the room.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting a beacon from the portable personal device that is useable with the access points to proximate a space within an area.
The environmental adaptation method also involves the device sending out a beacon signal. Access points in the room use this beacon to determine the device's proximity to different areas within the space. This proximity information can then be used to control the environment of the room.
10. A system for facilitating at least first and second different activities within a space, the system comprising: a first set of environmental control affordances including at least a first subset of lighting devices; a wireless access device; a processor linked to the first set of environmental control affordances and to the wireless access device, the processor programmed to perform the steps of: monitoring the wireless access device to identify transmissions from a portable personal device with a wireless transceiver proximate the space, the portable personal device having at least one sensor operable to produce trigger signals; monitoring communications from the portable personal device for trigger signals associated with the space; when a trigger occurs: (i) determining which of the first and second activities to facilitate; (ii) when the first activity is to be facilitated, controlling the environmental control affordances to present a first series of environments associated with the first activity; and (iii) when the second activity is to be facilitated, controlling the environmental control affordances to present a second series of environments associated with the second activity.
A system adapts a room's environment (lighting, etc.) based on a person's activity. The system includes environmental controls (lights), a wireless access point, and a processor. The processor monitors the wireless access point to identify signals from a phone or device in the room. The phone has a sensor that sends "trigger signals". When a trigger occurs, the system decides which activity the user is doing and adjusts the environmental controls to present a series of environments suitable for the activity.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further programmed to facilitate environments in a sequence that changes as consecutive triggers occur.
The system for adapting a room based on activity from claim 10 also adjusts the environment dynamically as a sequence of triggers occurs. The system changes the environment in response to consecutive triggers from the portable device, creating a series of environments that match the series of activities.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or an elevation detector.
In the system described in claim 10, the sensor in the personal device is an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or an elevation detector. These sensors allow the system to infer a person's activities based on movement and changes in position.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the trigger comprises a signal indicating that an elevation of the personal device has changed.
In the system of claim 12, where the personal device's sensor is an accelerometer, gyroscope, or elevation detector, the trigger signal happens when the device's elevation changes. This change in elevation triggers an environmental adjustment in the room.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises a lighting condition.
In the system described in claim 10, the environmental control being adjusted in response to triggers is the lighting condition in the space. This includes adjusting brightness, color, or other aspects of the lighting.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the personal portable device is further operable to present a space experience effect.
The system in claim 10 also includes a personal portable device that presents a "space experience effect". So, in addition to the environmental controls in the room, the user's device may play sound or present visual elements.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable device comprises at least one of a speaker and an earphone jack.
In the system described in claim 10, the phone or personal device includes a speaker or earphone jack. This allows the device to play sounds related to the environment or activity.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the personal device comprises at least one of a microphone, a speaker, and a control device for scheduling space use that operates for the space.
In the system described in claim 10, the phone also includes a microphone, a speaker, and a control for scheduling the room. This allows users to communicate with the system and manage room usage.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the personal device comprises a user identifying device enabling the system server to establish the identify of a system user in a space.
In the system described in claim 10, the phone or device includes a way to identify the user. This allows the system to tailor the environment based on who is in the room.
19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the portable personal device transmits a beacon useable with the access points to triangulate the location of at least one of the user device and a space within the area.
In the system described in claim 10, the device transmits a beacon signal, which access points use to find the location of the device and/or the room itself through triangulation. This allows the system to fine-tune environmental adjustments based on precise location.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of associating each of the first and second activities with at least one environmental control affordance.
In the method of adapting the room environment, each of the possible activities is linked to at least one specific environmental control setting.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of determining which of the first and second activities to facilitate.
The environmental adaptation method from claim 20 first determines which activity a user is currently engaging in, before adjusting the environmental controls.
22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of associating each of the first and second activities with a plurality of environmental control affordance devices.
In the environmental adaptation method, each activity is associated with multiple environmental controls instead of just one.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of environmental control affordances comprise a series of environmental control affordance devices.
In the environmental adaptation method, the multiple environmental controls associated with an activity are set in a specific sequence or order.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises at least one of a sound device, a temperature control device and an air circulation control device.
In the method for adapting a room based on activity, the environmental controls that can be adjusted include sound devices, temperature control devices, and air circulation control devices, in addition to lighting.
25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of identifying a user and adjusting the environmental control affordance based on the identity of the user.
In the method for adapting a room environment, the system first identifies the user and then adjusts the environment based on the user's identity.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of identifying the user comprises sensing biometric information.
In the method for adapting a room by identifying the user, the system detects biometric information, such as a fingerprint, to identify the user.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of identifying the user comprises acquiring images and identifying a facial feature.
In the method for adapting a room by identifying the user, the system analyzes images to identify facial features.
28. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an instruction to a user to connect the portable device.
The method of adapting a room environment proactively prompts the user to connect their device to the system.
29. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a password entry process to the user on the portable device.
In the method of adapting a room environment, a password entry screen is presented to the user on their portable device.
30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting an environmental control affordance comprises the step of changing at least one of a color of at least one of the first subset of lighting devices and an intensity of at least one of the first subset of lighting devices.
When the system adjusts the lighting as an environmental control, it specifically changes the color or brightness of the lighting devices.
31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of identifying the user comprises sensing an RFID.
User identification in the environmental adaption method happens by sensing an RFID signal.
32. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance condition comprises at least one of flashing, pulsating, or flickering of at least one of the first subset of lighting devices.
When the system adjusts the environmental controls, it can change the lighting by flashing, pulsating or flickering the lights.
33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the experience specification comprises at least one of an invite stage, a welcome stage, an activity stage, and an emergence stage and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance condition correlates with the at least one stage.
The "experience specification" used to determine environment adjustments has stages like "invite", "welcome", "activity", and "emergence," and the environment adjustments correlate to these stages.
34. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first space comprises at least one illuminated wall panel, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance condition comprises adjusting an illumination of the illuminated wall panel.
The room includes illuminated wall panels, and the environmental adaptation method adjusts the illumination of these wall panels.
35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first space comprises a dynamic glass wall panel, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance comprises adjusting a transparency of the dynamic glass.
The room includes a dynamic glass wall panel, and the environmental adaptation method adjusts the transparency of the glass.
36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first space comprises a wall panel with electronically controlled tinting, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance comprises adjusting a tint of the a wall panel with electronically controlled tinting.
The room includes a wall panel with electronically controlled tinting, and the environmental adaptation method adjusts the tint of the panel.
37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises an air circulation control device, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance comprises circulating cool air.
The environmental control being adjusted is an air circulation device, and the system can adjust this control by circulating cool air.
38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises an audio device, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance comprises playing at least one of a white noise sound track, a nature sound track, and a scene sound track.
The environmental control being adjusted is an audio device, and the system can adjust this by playing white noise, nature sounds, or other scene-specific sounds.
39. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises a temperature control, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance comprises at least one of heating and cooling.
The environmental control is temperature, and the system adjusts the environment by heating or cooling.
40. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental control affordance comprises at least one of a sound device, a temperature control device and an air circulation control device, and wherein the step of adjusting an environmental affordance.
The adjustable environmental controls include sound, temperature, and air circulation. The system then adjusts at least one of these.
41. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of adjusting the environmental control affordance comprises adjusting a lighting condition and an audio condition.
The adjustment of environmental control involves both adjusting a lighting condition and audio condition.
42. The method of claim 41 , wherein the step of adjusting the environmental control affordance comprises adjusting at least one of a temperature condition and an air circulation condition.
The adjustment of environmental controls involves adjusting lighting and audio, and can additionally adjust temperature and air circulation.
43. The system of claim 10 , wherein the environmental control affordance further comprises at least one of a sound device, a temperature control device and an air circulation control device.
In the system, the environmental controls include lighting, sound, temperature, and air circulation devices.
44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the processor is further programmed to control the environmental control affordance to play at least one of a white noise sound track, a nature sound track, and a scene sound track.
The system is programmed to control the audio devices by playing white noise, nature sounds, or scene-specific sounds.
45. The system of claim 43 , wherein the processor is further programmed to control the environmental control affordance to adjust at least one of a temperature and an air circulation condition.
The system is programmed to control temperature and air circulation by adjusting at least one of those.
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June 16, 2016
May 2, 2017
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